Just a quick note before we begin securing our home against disaster. Have you been aware of what is happening with gas prices? The price of gas is now at the highest point ever, this time of  the year. Experts, who were correct the past few years, now expect the price of gas to go up to $5.00 per gallon by summer. Now is the time to be looking at what we are doing  to get ready for another big hit to the budget. Food is going up. Do you have  your food storage so by summer you are eating out of your General Store and garden and only shopping when items are on sale? Have you seriously cut everything you can out of your budget now and putting aside what you are saving? Make sacrifices now and place that money into an account so your Christmas next year can be a cash one. Have you taken a good look at the possibility of a Stay at Home vacation? 

Two years ago I highlighted those who had stared at home businesses to help you with ideas for things you might be able to do to make a little extra income. I would love to do the same again this year. If any of you or your friends have started businesses at home and would like to share what you have done, to help motivate others, please let me know. Send me a note at: Carolyn@TotallyReady.com. 

By becoming more aware of conditions around us, we acquire a giant advantage by simply acting on common sense observations. When we look at our home and neighborhood, do we really “see” what an outsider might see in their first impression? Do we live in a high fire risk area? Have there been floods, earthquakes, or hurricanes where we live? Is the land around our house stable, or subject to landslides? Have there been natural or man-made disasters in our town? What is the history of our home area? What would the old-timers tell us about past emergencies in our town?

To protect the safety of our homes and families, there are a few things we can do now to prepare our house and property for trouble tomorrow:

Clear the area: Consult a landscape expert or research on the web to determine how fire resistant the plantings are near your home. If they are highly flammable, remove them and add more “fire friendly” planting. Clean brush, dead trees and foliage from around your home for at least thirty feet. Make sure wood piles are not stacked next to your home.

Clean the garage: Discard any old chemicals, oily rags, stacks of newspaper or any other flammable items stored in the garage that are not being used. Clearing room in the garage now will ensure you will be able to move outdoor items such as picnic tables and toys inside your garage quickly as a storm or flood approaches. Any items left  outside can act as missiles during a major storm, smashing through windows and walls.

Fire Extinguishers: Purchase a few good fire extinguishers if you don’t already have them. If you have them check them – make sure they are still charged. Make sure every member of the family knows how to use one.

Fire/smoke/carbon monoxide detectors: If you don’t have them, now is the time to get them. We are all candidates for a house fire. If you have detectors, check them every six months to make sure they are working properly.

Escape: Make sure there are two escape routes from each room in your home. If you have a second story, invest in at least one fire escape ladder. A ladder for each second floor bedroom is an even better idea.

Brace water heaters: Check the building codes in your area and strap water heaters accordingly. There may not have been a code in place when your home was built, and following the current code is a smart thing to do.

Elevate: Build a raised platform for your furnace and water heater, and raise your electrical panel if they are in areas that may be flooded.

Valve wrench: Place a gas shut off valve wrench on a hook next to the valve and teach your family how to use it. In an emergency, you may not have time to search for a wrench. If you are not at home, your family or neighbor may not know where to search for a wrench.

Anchor foundations: If you live in an older home or are unsure if your foundation is well anchored you should have your home inspected and correct any problem that may exist.

Strengthen walls: Do you remember the scene in the movie Mr. Blanding Builds his Dream House when Mr. Blanding (Cary Grant) is asked if he wants lintels between the lally columns? He has no idea what they are talking about, but seeing dollar signs he answers “no”. Immediately the builder yells to take out the lintels and 2x4s start falling from above. Make sure your home structure is properly built and reinforced to withstand the pressures of a storm or earthquake. When you build, use an architect or engineer, and avoid shortcuts.

Strengthen foundation: Check your foundation. Is it cracking? Is your home still level in all directions? Do some of your floors sag, just a little? It is time to have your foundation inspected. Some fixes are expensive, but will save you money in the long run since neglected repairs can lead to more costly consequences.

Chimney Inspection: How often do we have our chimneys cleaned and inspected? This one task can greatly reduce the risk of a home fire (ask your neighbor the fireman about chimney fires). It can also help save your home in an earthquake, wind storm or hurricane. Additionally, if you should ever have to heat your home using your fireplace, you will be grateful it is working properly. What an awful time to discover there is a problem.

Now, it's time to make a list of any of these items that need to be addressed in your home. Remember we are making a list of the things we can't afford, or don't have the time to do now. 

Now, one more thing, If you haven't already done so, now is the time to make a preparedness binder. How do you do this? I guess that is really up to you. There are many articles and tips that we have published that apply to several categories. As an example, an article on preparing for a winter power outage could be filed under, power outage, or winter storms. A flooding article could be filed under floods or hurricanes, since those normally produce floods.  Create sections for your binder that are specific to the area in which you live. Don't forget a food storage section and a recipe section too! Now, copy posts and your copy of the Totally Ready Newsletter and divide them into the categories you have created. If you have the first year of newsletter those alone will be 140 pages in your binder. There is so much information on the blog and in the newsletters. Get them organized now. During a disaster the power will almost surely be out and you will not be able to look up helpful tips! Do it today.

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1. I have spoken about the dry weather this winter before, but as an update… Farmers are now being forced to take water from irrigation districts because the rain that usually waters winter crops has not come. This may not seem like a big deal but it means these same farmers may not be allowed to take water this summer as they will have used their yearly allocations. They can purchase water but that costs an enormous amount of money. thus the cost to us will soar.

2. Housing foreclosure will rise in 2012. Last year home foreclosures came to a screeching halt as there was controversy over robo calls and other methods being used by banks. With the new year new laws and guidelines have come into effect and all the bank foreclosures that have been sitting and waiting can now be acted upon.  Check out realtytrac for more info.

3. Unemployment rates are up. We heard the unemployment rate was down for December but they are back up as temp employees hired for the holidays, have been let go. Claims are at the highest level in six weeks.

4. Retail sales in December hit the lowest level in six months. Yes, really, during what is normally the best shopping month of the year. 

5. Commodities ended the year higher than expected. Corn prices have already started climbing again on persistent worries that growing demand will outstrip supplies. Booming demand for livestock and crop-based fuels has outpaced farmers' ability to grow more food. http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Commodities-end-year-higher-even-after-sell-offs-2433200.php

No time to let down our efforts. Now you know what to tell your friends. 

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Listen to Carolyn's radio show READY OR NOT…every Tuesday night 9:00pm Eastern, 6:00pm Pacific…if you missed some listen now.

Current show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper

Past shows: http://www.bepreparedradio.com/category/prepper-podcasts-preparedness/ready-or-not/

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There are so many concerns right now.

Food prices are rising and rising not just a little, but a lot.

Home property crimes and home invasions are on the rise world wide.

Civil unrest is rising world wide and many believe the United States may be next.

Hurricane Rina threatening.

La Nina means lower temperature and more snow in the north and more drought in the south.

Please plan to call in with your take on all of this and with your questions and suggestions.

With crime rates on the rise now may be the time to establish a neighborhood watch group. 

The Watch concept is adaptable. You can design your watch in any way that makes sense for your circumstances. You may need a Park Watch, Apartment Watch, Boat Watch, School Watch, or Business Watch. 

Organizers and block captains must emphasize that Watch groups are not vigilantes and do not assume the role of the police. The role of a watch group is to observe and report suspicious activity to the police and to a neighbor if they seem to be in immediate danger.

When the neighborhood decides to adopt the Watch idea it should:

• Elect a chairperson.
• Ask for block captain volunteers who are responsible for relaying information to members on their block, keeping up-to-date information on residents, and making special efforts to involve the elderly, working parents, and young people. Block captains also can serve as liaisons between the neighborhood and the police and communicate information about meetings and crime incidents to all residents.
• Establish a regular means of communicating with Watch members- e.g. newsletter, telephone tree, e-mail, fax, etc.
• Prepare a neighborhood map showing names, addresses, and phone numbers of participating households and distribute to members. Block captains keep this map up to date, contacting newcomers to the neighborhood and rechecking occasionally with ongoing participants.

• this map up to date, contacting newcomers to the neighborhood and rechecking occasionally with ongoing participants.

Law enforcement agencies, will be happy to help train watch groups in home security techniques, observation skills, and crime reporting.They will also help you understand the crimes happening in your area including information on gangs who may be operating in town.

Someone must take the first step in every neighborhood. Why not you?

Tune in tonight to hear why you should be working overtime on your food storage. Keep working on your General Store this week. We are almost done with the year and if you have been following each week you have seen your stash grow and are now almost to a complete three month supply of the foods you eat each day. This week add 6 pounds or grains to your shelves. Add the grains your family eats and loves. You may not know how to use wheat but be sure you are prepared to use it as you will not want to be without bread or tortillas for long. Mealtime is so much easier during a crisis if you can throw together a sandwich or a wrap. Now, get buying!

Please go "like" our facebook page now! 

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Listen to Carolyn's radio show READY OR NOT…every Tuesday night 9:00pm Eastern, 6:00pm Pacific…if you missed some listen now.

Current show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper

Past shows: http://www.bepreparedradio.com/category/prepper-podcasts-preparedness/ready-or-not/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

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Contact Carolyn at: Carolyn@TotallyReady.com

Remember our motto? "Nothing is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so we may fear less" Madame Curie

It seems I am doing lots of posts with bad news but if you don't know, how can you understand? Did you know the housing market is spiraling out of control? Here are the latest facts:

13% of all home in the United States are vacant

Sale of new homes the months of February was the lowest ever recorded

Sale of existing homes was down 10% in February

The second lowest home sale month was in 1963. At that time 600,000 homes were sold in a month, note 250,000 were sold last month. Not good. The other factor to consider is that there are 120 million MORE people in the United States now than in 1963. More potential home purchasers. This fact makes the home sale numbers even more alarming. The question being asked on the news this morning was: "If these homes are vacant who is paying taxes?" With fewer home owners the tax burden will increase for those owning homes.

Caterpillar has announced they are considering moving their operations to Switzerland. Why would an American icon like Caterpillar move out of the country? Simple. Their taxes have been raised 35%, not to 35% but by 35%. Caterpillar added 7,500 employees in 2010. They have a workforce in the United States of 23,000. All those jobs gone? How is that happening? There are consequences to raising taxes on business no matter what the politicians would like us to believe. Do you realize 30,000 companies have moved from the United States to Switzerland. Those are just the ones who have moved there. Many more have moved to other nations. We must be informed so when we hear about unions making demands and candidates asking for higher taxes on business just what that really means.

All of this confirms for the the need to prepare now. Purchase foods storage, seeds, and non food essentials now. This is also the time to watch for sales of preparedness items you may still be in need of.  Thus far this year we have added a battery operated clock, corded land line phone, and Dutch oven. Have you added those? Now is also the time to watch for clearance sale on items which can be purchased as great birthday and holiday gifts. There is no better time than today to begin.

We will be announcing a huge…huge…give away the first of April. Watch for that announcement and prepare now to enter to win!

Listen to my radio show READY OR NOT…every Tuesday night 9:00pm Eastern, 6:00pm Pacific…if you missed some listen now.

Current show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper

Past shows: http://www.bepreparedradio.com/category/prepper-podcasts/ready-or-not/

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

Life really is getting harder for Americans, 10% of us are statistics on the unemployment roles, another 7 % are unemployed and have given up looking, and now we learn the the census has confirmed that for the first time in a generation American incomes dropped over the last decade. Between 2000 and 2009 incomes fell 5%. The median income  is now less than $50,000 year. During the past year home sales are down 35% with foreclosures up 30%.

There are other concerns that make self reliance of vital concern to all of us. This week we experienced another huge solar event. To date these have damaged satellites but done very little damage to communications and electronics on earth. We are just entering the time when these are predicted to continue to increase in frequency and in size. If you have not read the post concerning solar flares and EMPs this would be a great time to take note. I have spent a few months discussing the possibilities on the blog and also in the Newsletter. We have talked about cooking off the grid in great detail and I have given you many recipes for Dutch ovens, foil dinners and more. With winter coming we will be exploring surviving the cold off the grid.

I attended a HAM radio conference this past weekend and one thing one the the presenters said was something I have been trying to convey for months. He said it so concisely that it will now become part of my speak as well. He said we think we will rise to the occasion but during an emergency we sink to the level of our knowledge. It is so true. We can only use the tools, skills, creativity, imagination we have learned when a crisis comes. If we have not placed ourselves in a position to gain knowledge and to learn skill we can not hope to suddenly have the ability to create a safe and secure environment for our loved ones. We have spent lots of time working on our General Store and that is a huge part of preparing but we must also know how to use and rotate those foods. There is so much to learn and with my book finished I promise we will again spend time learning more.

This week we are adding five pounds of protein per family member to our General Store. Protein can include canned or frozen meats and fish, beans, nuts, and nut butters. Again as in the past be sure to store a variety as we all know it is the spice of life! For those whose food shelves are full it is time to add cotton balls and cotton swabs. I know some of these things may seem unnecessary but remember we are not only storing for an emergency but for everyday living. With the economy in awful shape and the question on new taxes beginning in January we must prepare for all of our needs to be met. The same concept hold true for everything we purchase, stock items you use in your General Store and you never need to purchase them at full price again.

Tomorrow we have another great show planned with Jim Fleckenstein. Don’t forget, set the alarm, do whatever it takes to remember, and be there! Please have your questions ready. If you still have not listened to his first show on READY OR NOT you need to check it out. Don’t get caught like so many, and lose out on the money you are entitled to after a disaster.  Every Tuesday 6:00pm Pacific at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/10/20/preparedness-radio-10-19-2010

To Listen to past broadcasts of READY OR NOT visit:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/carolyn-nicolaysen/

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

Heat waves are dangerous and they are deadly. Rolling blackouts and power outages are a real possibility and make matters even worse. There are things you can do to make the time safer for your friends and family. Don’t wait to take action. Do it now.

Following are a few steps you can take to help make heat waves a little more bearable:

1. It’s O.K. to raid your 72 hour kit… That’s right, 72 hour kits are not just for earthquakes and hurricanes but for any emergency. Your kit should include Instant Cold Packs. Place them on the neck or forehead for the best results. Mylar Blankets placed in the sunniest windows will cut down on the heat entering your home. Move the blankets as the sun moves or just leave them in place. These blankets are also large enough to cover a sliding door without piecing. You will be amazed at how quickly the temperature in a room will drop when you cover your windows with these blankets. Mylar blankets are also great to use outdoors to create shade as they reflect the sun’s rays. do this now and if the power fails you will be able to keep your home cool longer.
2. Get wet. Take a shower and don’t dry your hair, take a dip in the pool and don’t dry off (if the pool is in the sun don’t stay in too long), run through a sprinkler, keep a spray bottle nearby and mist your face (also great for your complexion), use wet compresses on your neck or head, keep a wet washcloth by your bed to cool yourself through the night, wrap your head in a wet bandanna, or soak your feet.
3. Drink lots of water, lemonade or juices, but never anything with caffeine or alcohol as these will raise your body temperature. Sodas will only increase your thirst. Popsicles are also a great way to stay hydrated. If you are thirsty, you have waited too long to drink.
4. Eat cold foods. This is the time to eat sandwiches, salads and other foods that are not heated. Avoid large portions of protein foods as they will increase body temperature. Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
5. Cook outdoors if you feel you must have a hot meal. Crock pot cooking is also a great way to keep the heat outside. If you don’t have outside spaces, plug in your crock pot in a room you are not using such as the laundry room.
6. Keep blinds and curtains closed.
7. Move activities, including eating and sleeping, to the coolest room in the house. This will normally be on the lowest level of your home and in a room with an exposure that does not receive direct sunlight.
8. This is one time when you shouldn’t be concerned with how much television the family watches. Play board games or read, but don’t be too active.
9. Use your outdoor umbrellas outside the windows receiving direct sun. Outdoor canopies, tarps, and dining flies also work well.
10. Wear loose, light colored clothing.
11. Sit next to a fan. Remember fans do not cool the air, they only move it. You become cooler as the moisture on your skin evaporates. This is the reason you want to stay wet!
12. Skip the exercise routine and working outside.
13. Go Shopping! No kidding. Go to the grocery store or mall and window shop. Taking in a movie or going bowling are also “cool” pastimes.
14. The elderly, young children, pregnant women and those taking diuretics are most vulnerable to heat related emergencies. If a member of your family is taking any medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist to determine if they are more susceptible to the affects of the heat.
15. Check on housebound and elderly – neighbors and friends – and get them to a cooling center. Be sure there is a plan for their care when the cooling center closes. Many centers close for the night. Nighttime can be the most dangerous time of the day. We assume the temperature will be lower at night, but this is not always the case – especially in the city. All those roads and sidewalks retain heat during the day and as they release it at night the temperature remains high. Same thing for suburban congestion – several homes on an acre of land with homes just a few feet from each other is a bad idea.
16. Visit a friend or relative out of town. The temperature in the city is usually several degrees higher then the temperature in a country setting.
17. Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. (see yesterday’s post)
18. Turn off lights and the computer in the rooms you are trying to cool down.
19. When it cools down at night, if it cools down, open all the windows. Close them again mid morning as it starts to heat up.
20. Never leave children or pets in a parked car, even with the windows open. The temperature in a car, with the windows open, can reach 120º F within a few minutes.
21. If you are stranded in your car, place mylar blankets on the roof and over the windshield and rear window, on the outside of the car. Weight them down with rocks or anything you have on hand. You can also secure them by closing them into the door. Keep the windows open. The mylar blankets will reflect the sun, greatly reducing the heat.
22. Remember your pets. (see yesterday’s post)
23. If you need to go outside, wear a wide brimmed hat and sunscreen.
24. Find a cooling center by calling the police department or fire department.

Heat-related emergencies are very serious. Add a power outage and the results are deadly. Protect yourself now by accumulating items which will help through the emergency and learn how to use them. Teach your family members the dangers and warning signs now.

Check out today’s show with Halli!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/08/06/guest-carolyn-nicolaysen-preparedness-expert (solar activity, power outages and stocking a General Store)

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

Yikes it’s hot! With record temperature in the United Sates this week it is a good time to review the danger signs. Yes, the heat can kill and it can do it quickly if you ignore the signs. Review the symptoms and the treatments below and pass along a link to this information to family and friends who may live in the southern and eastern parts of the United States where temperatures are reaching 120 degrees in some areas.

Know the signs:

• Heat cramps: Heat cramps are muscle pains and spasms due to heavy exertion and dehydration. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are often the first signal that the body is in trouble.
• Heat Exhaustion: Someone suffering from heat exhaustion will have cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; sweat heavily; have a headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and general exhaustion. Body temperature may be normal, or may be rising.
• Heat stroke: Someone suffering from heat stroke will have hot, red skin; lapse of consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Their body temperature can be very high, as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry. If any of these symptoms are present call your doctor or hospital for treatment directions. If you have any doubt, call for help.

Treat Immediately:

• Heat cramps: Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can cause further dehydration, making conditions worse.
• Heat exhaustion: Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Increase ventilation by opening windows or using a fan. Cool them down as quickly as possible. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give them aspirin or other medications. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition.
• Heat stroke: Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Place victim in front of an open window or fan. Never leave a victim alone. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water, is vomiting, or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

Know the signs for pets:

1. Pet owners need to recognize the symptoms of heat stress in animals. Watch for heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation and vomiting.

• Treatment: Until you can get medical help move the animal into a cool area, apply ice packs or cold towels to the head, neck and chest or immerse the animal in cool water. Get the pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

The heat can be deadly. Check on neighbors and friends to be sure they have a working air conditioner and plenty of cool drinks and foods. Check back tomorrow for tips on surviving a heat wave.

Remember….Tomorrow morning I will be speaking with Halli again. We will cover our latest General Store purchases and I’m sure more about the solar flare. The great thing about her show is that we can change direction the morning of the show if a disaster should become evident even five minuted before broadcast time. Visit with us on Friday morning 7:00AM Pacific time. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

I am really out of the habit of listing food to be added to our General Store each week so this week I left you without a task. So sorry. This week add 5 more cans of fruit per family member. Over the past three weeks we have added fruit twice and desserts. Don’t you love…this plan? We will get to the other food groups but the summer is such a great time to freeze, dry and can fruits inexpensively that we are going to take advantage of the cost savings.

A few months ago we began talking about solar flares and coronal ejections and the possibility of damage to our electrical grid and other negative affects. The time has come. We are beginning to see increased activity on the sun.

“The sun’s surface erupted early Sunday morning, shooting a wall of ionized atoms directly at Earth, scientists say. It is expected to create a geomagnetic storm and a spectacular light show — and it could pose a threat to satellites in orbit, as well.

Leon Golub said: “It’s the first major Earth-directed eruption in quite some time.”

The solar eruption, called a coronal mass ejection, was spotted by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which captures high-definition views of the sun at a variety of wavelengths. SDO was launched in February and peers deep into the layers of the sun, investigating the mysteries of its inner workings.

The interaction of the solar particles with our planet’s magnetic field has the potential to create geomagnetic storms or disturbances, in Earth’s magnetosphere.

Fortunately for Earth-bound observers, the atmosphere filters out nearly all of the radiation from the solar blast. The flare shouldn’t pose a health hazard, Golub told FoxNews.com.

The radiation “almost never” makes it to ground, he noted, though pilots and passengers in airplanes may experience increased radiation levels akin to getting an X-ray.

The solar particles also could affect satellites, though scientists think that possibility is remote. Orbital Sciences Corp. believe a similar blast may have knocked out Galaxy 15 satellite permanently out of action this year.

This type of solar event has both government officials and satellite manufacturers worrying.

NASA scientists warned recently that high-energy electric pulses from the sun could cripple our electrical grid for years, causing billions in damages. In fact, the House is so concerned that the Energy and Commerce committee voted unanimously to approve a bill allocating $100 million to protect the energy grid from this rare but potentially devastating occurrence.” *

In an interview this morning Dean Pesnell, a Solar Dynamics Observation scientist further commented in a Fox News interview. He explained that particles from the sun take approximately two days to reach the earth. What is happening on the sun right now is not unusual. The prominance eruption and solar flares we saw on Sunday occur in cycles. We are currently finishing a solar minimum which means there has been little solar activity. This minimum has been longer than most so scientist fear the solar maximum may be stronger that the last which ended ion 2001. The solar maximum is expected to peak in 2010.

He commented that right now satellites may be affected and loose their ability to maneuver and could also loose parts. This will affect communication satellites mainly which include, TV, radio, and cell phone communication. Civilian as well as military flights may also need to cease to fly over the poles as they do now as communications with planes over the poles may become impossible. Astronauts may also be exposed to higher levels of radiation although it will not affect us on earth.

He confirmed that as we move forward these events will become more powerful and could have much greater affects. None of this is really new to those of you who have been reading this blog for a while now. We have talked about all of this but there is now more evidence and more scientist are talking to support our concerns and our preparations.

Yesterday I was at a sporting good store and they had Dutch Ovens on sale for a price I have not seen in a long time. I needed another as I am seriously planning for an extended power outage from solar activity, terrorism or whatever it may be. I asked at the counter if I could order 12 more at the same price and they said yes! I was so excited. I knew a few friends wanted ovens to give to their children as gifts so I asked for a bunch. The point here is, if you see a great deal it never hurts to ask if you can get more. If an items is not on sale and you want several ask about a discount. This is such an easy way for a store to make quick money. No stocking and no worry about whether or not the item will sell, guaranteed money.Don’t be afraid to ask. Get a group of friend together and decide what you need in your preparedness stash and start asking. This can even be a great approach to grocery stores for your food storage needs.

Emergency preparedness=Emergency Management and Survival!

FYI the photo today is of a coronal mass ejection similar to the one on Sunday.

*http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/08/03/spectacular-northern-lights-signals-sun-waking/

Remember….Friday morning I will be speaking with Halli again. We will cover our latest General Store purchases and I’m sure more about the solar flare. The great thing about her show is that we can change direction the morning of the show if a disaster should become evident even five minuted before broadcast time. Visit with us on Friday morning 7:00AM Pacific time. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

Yes, there was a massive solar storm yesterday. It has been classified a solar tsunami. Scientists are expecting really magnificent auras in the night sky beginning tomorrow night. The sighting could be as far south as the southern states but probably not. In any case they will be much further south than  Canada which usually gets all the fun. This could just be the beginning. We have been talking about this now for months and I would guess many of you thought I was nutty. The flares in this cycle will not take down power grids but remember we are just beginning this active sun cycle, and yes it is a cycle. Scientists are still expecting these to continue until the end of 2013 and they fear as the eruptions get worse many of the thousands of satellites in space will be disabled. That’s right, TV, cell phone, Internet…all will be affected even if the grids are not taken down on earth. Check out www.wired.com for some really spectacular videos.

Today the power went out. We knew it would. the power company was replacing the transformer. We took this as a good time to check out just how ready we are for a power outage. I made sure the freezers were full of bottles of water so things would stay frozen. I froze all of our blue ice packs and had them ready for use. I filled everything that would hold water and place jugs in the bathroom and next to the kitchen sink for hand washing. I took the foods for snacks and lunch out of the fridge and placed them in a cooler with some of the blue ice packs so we wouldn’t need to open the door. Didn’t place a sign on the door with a threat if the door were to be opened but during an outage when we don’t know exactly how long it will be out I will place that sign on the door to remind us not to open without a very specific plan of what you will grab before shutting the door quickly.

What I hadn’t done, because I hadn’t thought about it, which I will now do, was to place an object or bottle in the toilet tank so it wouldn’t take as much water to refill the tank. I realized this as I refilled the tank from a gallon of stored water and it took the whole gallon! and that didn’t even completely fill the tank. I knew it took lots of water but I just hadn’t thought to reduce the amount of water it would actually take. We dedicated one bathroom as the only on in use so monitoring supplies of water and hand sanitizer would be easier and would also save the water in the other tanks, just in case.

I got out the solar/crank radio and flashlight in my 72 hour kit so I could see how long a crank would actually last as we listened. To my chagrin the radio didn’t work on crank power. I flipped the switch to solar and it worked! I was angry that the crank didn’t give me the power needed but thrilled that the solar worked since it hadn’t been charged for months.

We dragged out the new generator and were thrilled that it was fairly quiet. It is an inexpensive model so this was great news. We powered a computer and a few other things and everything went well. Now we have a gauge to calculate the amount of gas it uses per hour so we can be better prepared for a long outage and know exactly how to ration our resources.

For all the planning we have done and all the times the power has been out, we always learn something new or are reminded of things we have forgotten. I would suggest you choose a 24 hour period to live without electric power. You can leave the freezer and the refrigerator plugged in but treat them as though they are not. See what you learn and share it with us and others.

This week I noticed some of the big pharmacy stores have their paper towels on sale. I guess because of my own power outage and the solar flare reminding us just how real a threat of gird collapse is,  a sale on paper products caught my eye. We already have plates and cups in our storage. This week add paper towels and napkins. Again, consider the number of people in your home and how many others will likely show up to be fed, and multiply by three meals a day when purchasing napkins. For paper towels consider how many times a day you pick up a sponge or wash cloth to clean up.

Friday morning I will be speaking with Halli again. We will cover our latest General Store purchases and I’m sure more about the solar flare. The great thing about her show is that we can change direction the morning of the show if a disaster should become evident even five minuted before broadcast time. Visit with us on Friday morning 7:00AM Pacific time. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk

Benjamin Franklin said: “Diligence is the mother of good luck”

Let us be diligent

Prepare today so you won’t be sorry tomorrow.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

We know identity theft is increasing as are all types of crimes. As time get tougher these crimes always increase. We can not achieve self reliance or maintain it, if someone else is controlling our finances through identity theft. There are steps to take and now is the time to take them.

1. Check your credit report at least twice a year. Check with all three of the credit agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Review all the personal information on all three of the credit reports. Check for accuracy, credit accounts you didn’t open, loans, or any other transactions you didn’t authorize. Report any inaccuracies to each of the credit agencies and the police immediately. A fraud alert will be added to your account for 90 days so be sure to notify anyone you are applying for a loans with about the alert. Check back after the 90 days to be sure there are no charges after that date. Don’t assume the person stealing your identity has gone away.
2. Be careful when using the ATM. If something feels wrong leave and return later. Never allow anyone to stand behind you when you are completing a transaction. Never carry your PIN code in your wallet. If your wallet is stolen wiping out your account is simple.
3. Check your bills. Whether receiving your bills electronically or mail box at the street you are susceptible to identity theft. Check each statement to make sure you can account for every charge. If any seem strange or unfamiliar contact the company immediately.
4. Check your bank statements carefully. Thieves can steal a check, or account number or even you debit card password and wipe you out. Again, anything that look suspicious investigate immediately.
5. Contact the creditor of any fraudulent account or charge by phone, explain the situation and immediately have the account closed. They should open a new account for you with no problem at the same time. Follow up by contacting them in writing. Keep a list of all account numbers and phone numbers in a safe place where they can be accessed quickly in case they are needed.
6. If you discover fraud contact the Federal Trade Commission and file a complaint. File complaint at: www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
7. Call immediately if a bill or statement is late. If one looks as though it has been opened call immediately.
8. Save yourself the hassle and:Never give you social security number, bank account number, credit card number, PIN number or password to anyone over the phone. Never. No reputable company or bank will ever ask.

   Mail all your mail at a post office or drop box, never by leaving it in your mailbox.

   If you are leaving town for more than a day have the post office hold your mail.

   Install anti virus and sky ware on all computers.

   Don’t throw bank statements, bills containing account numbers, credit card statements, credit card invitations, voided checks, pay stubs, tax forms (including your work sheets) or ATM transaction receipts in the trash. Shred or burn them.

Prepare today so you won’t be sorry tomorrow.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends

The Tax Foundation was established in 1937 to help Americans understand the implications of tax legislation and to understand tax codes. There website says:

“The Tax Foundation has launched a “Bush tax cuts” calculator at www.MyTaxBurden.org, which allows taxpayers to compare their 2011 federal income tax liabilities under three scenarios: if all the Bush tax cuts expire completely at the end of this year, if they’re all extended into 2011 or made permanent, and if President Obama’s budget is adopted, which includes a combination of expirations and extensions.

Taxpayers can type in basic information-such as filing status, wage income and number of dependents-along with optional more detailed information-such as capital gains and dividend income, state and local taxes paid and other itemized deductions-and determine what their federal income tax burden would be in 2011.”

As an example of what the elimination of these tax cuts will do: a couple making $100,000 per year will pay $12,500 in 2010…2011 the tax will be 15,700 or an increase of 3,200. For a couple with two children making $100,000 the taxes will go from $8,600 this year to 12,600 next, or an increase of $4,000. The alternative tax code requires tax payers to calculate their taxes two ways and to pay the larger. If this code is not adjusted one in three taxpayers in the country will have to calculate their taxes in this manner. Please check out the calculator for yourself to determine how this will affect you. Bottom line, taxes will go up for all Americans not just the wealthy on January 1st if the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire.

It’s time to add another non food item to our General Store. With all the discussion about water in our yahoo group we are going to prepare for water shortages by stocking up on paper cups this week. Add a minimum of 100 cups per family member. This may sound like a lot of paper cups but that is figuring only one per day! It does not account for those who may just, drop in, when they discover their preparations are not sufficient. We all have a list of those we have tried to counsel and we know when the crisis hits, they will come. Consider those as you plan. Also, consider if the crisis we are facing is not contaminated water or a power outage causing water shortages but a severe pandemic you will want more than one cup per ill person per day as you will be discard them after every use. When dealing with a pandemic you will not have the energy to care for the ill and also wash dishes and continue with all the other household chores. Disposable cups will be an absolute necessity.

I would advise you to store both cold cups and cups appropriate for hot drinks. I have started storing more hot than cold because they are more versatile and can be used for serving hot foods like beans, soups and stews, as well as drinks. They will also hold up better for a full days use.

Finally purchase only paper cups. If we have an extended power outage we may be dealing with a major disaster and may not have trash collection. Paper products can be burned, plastic will emit dangerous gases and will be a danger to your family.

For those who are just beginning the food portion of their General Store we have added fruit. Today we are adding desserts. Yep, start with the important stuff…You should have asked your family about their favorite desserts so this week add the ingredients to make eight desserts. This could be as simple as a cake mix or the individual ingredients for your favorite cookies. Consider some that could also be made if the electrical grid were down. There are a few recipes for Dutch oven desserts in the April 2010 issue of the Totally Ready newsletter. This week…store eight desserts!

****Win a Consultation!***

To help motivate you to share I am offering the chance for you to win a personal one hour consultation. This will be a phone call where you can ask any questions you may have. You may even ask a group of friends to join you on a conference call or just using your speaker phone. To win one of five  consultations just refer five friends to blog.totallyready.com and our yahoo group. Have them mention your email address when they log into the yahoo group and leave a comment on any blog post. Ten friends and you get two chances to win. Fifteen friends and I will call you, guaranteed! It’s that simple. Watch for other special offers as we progress. I know I don’t want to look back when things get worse and think I could have done more to help you.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage part 1. .http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Doctor Prepper show all about food storage part 2. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/20/doctor-prepper-show

Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

Talk with Halli: food storage and current financial outlook. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/07/16/hfalli-friends



For those who are just beginning and as a reminder to all who have been at this for years, a tutorial about why we store the things we store. So, why is it important to store fruits and veggies and not just wheat and beans? Simple, all the foods we consume contribute in some way to our overall health. During a time of stress it is even more important for all of these vitamins and nutrients to be present to insure good health.When considering foods to store first refer to the list you made when you created your ingredient list. Then consider color. You should be storing fruits and vegetables in every color. This will guarantee you are providing all the vitamins and minerals available. Store orange: peaches and apricots, yellow: corn, pineapple, applesauce, pears, Red: beets, red cabbage, cherries…you get the idea.

We have had this discussion before so I will summarize and just say, remember canned foods will keep at least two years past the expiration’s date. Also remember in all the studies that have been done comparing frozen, fresh and canned foods it has been shown that canned foods provide as much nutrition as fresh foods which have been harvested after just 24-48 hours. In other words, they are as nutritious as fresh fruits and vegetables you would purchase in the grocery store which are at least that old when they hit the store shelves.

This is what fruits and veggies contribute to our health:

Calcium: Calcium is essential for healthy bones and teeth. Promotes healthy functioning of muscles, nerves and some glands.

Fiber: Diets rich in dietary fiber has a number of beneficial effects including, decreased risk of coronary heart disease, reduces colon diseases, helps control cholesterol, and helps control blood sugar levels.

Folate: Healthful diets with adequate folate may reduce a woman’s risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord defect. Builds red blood cells.

Iron: Needed for healthy blood and normal functioning of all cells.

Magnesium: Magnesium is necessary for healthy bones and teeth and is involved with more than 300 enzymes in your body! Increases metabolism and tissue formation. Inadequate levels may result in muscle cramps and high blood pressure.

Potassium: Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Sodium: Needed for normal cell function throughout the body. Most diets contain too much sodium which is associated with high blood pressure.

Vitamin A: Promotes good night vision, and maintains healthy skin and membranes and helps protect against infections.

Vitamin C: Helps heal cuts and wounds by building strong blood vessel walls. Keeps teeth and gums healthy.

Finally, this morning I had a visit from a couple of friends. One I had not seen for many years and all she wanted to talk about was food storage. She asked questions for over an hour and as we talked she thought of questions she didn’t even know she had. That is what is called a consultation. It wasn’t meant to be but that is how it turned out. You can qualify to win a consultation too. Get busy today and win one so we can talk! You could just hire me but why do that if you can win one?

****Win a Consultation!***

To help motivate you to share I am offering the chance for you to win a personal one hour consultation. This will be a phone call where you can ask any questions you may have. You may even ask a group of friends to join you on a conference call or just using your speaker phone. To win one of five  consultations just refer five friends to blog.totallyready.com and our yahoo group. Have them mention your email address when they log into the yahoo group and leave a comment on any blog post. Ten friends and you get two chances to win. Fifteen friends and I will call you, guaranteed! It’s that simple. Watch for other special offers as we progress. I know I don’t want to look back when things get worse and think I could have done more to help you.

Confused about the solar storms NASA is anticipating? Take some time and listen to my show with Halli.

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

My discussion with Doctor Prepper all about food storage.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show



****Win a Consultation!***

To help motivate you to share I am offering the chance for you to win a personal one hour consultation. This will be a phone call where you can ask any questions you may have. You may even ask a group of friends to join you on a conference call or just using your speaker phone. To win one of five  consultations just refer five friends to blog.totallyready.com and our yahoo group. Have them mention your email address when they log into the yahoo group and leave a comment on any blog post. Ten friends and you get two chances to win. Fifteen friends and I will call you, guaranteed! It’s that simple. Watch for other special offers as we progress. I know I don’t want to look back when things get worse and think I could have done more to help you.

This weekend I spent several hours inventorying my General Store. I took some time but it was well worth it. I discovered a few areas I need to beef up but I was so happy to discover my storage really is very well balanced. Plenty of each food group, condiments, spices and ingredients for desserts. There is always room for improvement and that was my goals, to find the weak spots. We have been working on our non  food items and there I am doing much better because it is on my mind each day as I watch for items on sale and think about what we should add next. We have had a conversation about laundry detergent in the yahoo group and I am feeling I need to store more so I can make it an entire year instead of just three month. None of the ingredients will go bad and I would really like to be able to have clean clothes for as long as the emergency last. I also think if there are others I need to be around I would want them smelling fresh too! It’s important for all of us to have those “discussions” with ourselves to determine what the priorities are for our own situations. TP, toothpaste and now soap, yep they all make my list!

I also spent time this weekend at an LDS cannery. If you have never been they are a wonderful resource for inexpensive, long term storage foods. The prices are great and you can the food in #10 cans which protects them from pests, water damage in case of a flood and damage from winds, smoke from fires and earthquakes. You do not have to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to go. Just find a Mormon friend and ask them if there is one in your area. The friend can direct you to a price list so you can see what is available. Then ask them to take you. You may just get them moving on their own food storage again.

This morning Erskine Bowles who is Obama’s Debt Commissioner spoke and he said if we (our nation) don’t restore fiscal sanity we are going to go broke. He continued that this is the worst economic crisis in history and if we stay on this path it will be a cancer that will destroy our country from within. Allen Simpson, the co-chair of the same commission made similar remarks and said out debt is being financed by China who is just printing more money to buy up investments in the US.

Last week I received emails from people around the world like never before, New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica, England, Canada and more. It reminded me this is not a problem only for us in the United States.

“Otago University’s school of human nutrition has released its annual food costs survey of how much it costs to feed a family based on healthy nutritional guidelines. The survey confirms what shoppers already know – it’s getting more expensive to buy even the most basic of groceries. And in some areas prices have risen by more than half over the past five years”

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/3907335/Food-prices-eat-more-from-weekly-budget

If you are just joining us you should now have a list of items you are going to add to your General Store and you should have a storage buddy. Today you begin. You will add non food items each week along with those who have been around here for a long time. This week we are going to add vitamins to our store shelves. I am not a huge believer in vitamins because I don’t believe they are the fix but during a time of stress when our food choices may not be adequate to provide all the vitamins and minerals we need vitamins will be an important addition to our daily diet. Vitamins are good for at least two years after the expiration date so when purchasing by the newest on the shelf. Check because the newest are often in the back. This week there seem to be lots of B one get one free offers on vitamins so stock up.

If you are just beginning and need to be stocking food as well begin this week by adding fruit. You can can your own or go to the store and purchase. Add 5 cans per family member. To get a complete list of what you will need to store for a three month supply you can  purchase my ebook: Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing Now, you can purchase the Totally Ready Newsletters from the last year, or you can go back and browse the General Store posts beginning in February of 2009. If you choose to purchase anything I will include the 52 Week Guide to a Three Month Supply free.

My last  Doctor Prepper Show. We spent the entire hour talking about food storage. Take a listen as it was all about how to get started. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/07/08/doctor-prepper-show

Confused about the solar storms NASA is anticipating? Take some time and listen to my show with Halli.

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010



]]> http://blog.totallyready.com/our-general-store-and-the-news-about-the-economy-gets-worse-win-a-consulation/07/12/feed/ 0 http://blog.totallyready.com/our-general-store-next-step-for-beginners-be-proactive-prepare-for-the-coming-recession-win-a-personal-consultation/07/06/ http://blog.totallyready.com/our-general-store-next-step-for-beginners-be-proactive-prepare-for-the-coming-recession-win-a-personal-consultation/07/06/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:57:37 +0000 Carolyn http://blog.totallyready.com/?p=1957

****Win a Consultation!***

To help motivate you to share I am offering the chance for you to win a personal one hour consultation. This will be a phone call where you can ask any questions you may have. You may even ask a group of friends to join you on a conference call or just using your speaker phone. To win one of five  consultations just refer five friends to blog.totallyready.com and our yahoo group. Have them mention your email address when they log into the yahoo group and leave a comment on any blog post. Ten friends and you get two chances to win. Fifteen friends and I will call you, guaranteed! It’s that simple. Watch for other special offers as we progress. I know I don’t want to look back when things get worse and think I could have done more to help you.

I know it may be a bold statement to assume there is a Double Dip Recession coming but I really can see no way around it right now. I don’t believe politicians have the courage to do what is necessary and I say that as a former politician. Did know that about me? Well…it was our local school board but it still meant a nasty campaign. Let me tell you a story…I was serving during a time of real economic crisis. We needed to make some changes and they were not popular but in order to retain state funding it had to be done. I did my research and spoke with teachers (off the record of course, unions hate it when the teachers talk to you honestly!). I talked to the custodians, secretaries, parents and kids. I made the tough choice, the choice that was best for all, not just a few, and I got slammed by the union and parents who refused to listen. I was not reelected and EVERYTHING I said would result, did. I know what it means to be blasted in the press and to have people I thought were friends desert me. Now I understand that this was just local but in some ways that is worse. My kids were harassed and I was harassed at the grocery store and soccer games. I really don’t believe we have enough people willing to give up their elected  positions to do what is best for all.

I also believe Americans may have become weak and dependent and that they don’t have the courage to demand the government reduce spending as it may mean those social programs we are used to may have to disappear.  We seem to have forgotten we are Americans and together we can get through tough times. Our parents and grandparents knew that. They planted victory gardens, shared skills, rationed food and did everything necessary to beat a great depression and a horrible dictator in Germany. We must become that type of person! We can begin within our own homes and among our own friends and family.

What we have done:

We have a binder, paper, a permanent marker and passion to succeed.

Begun by designating a change jar as part of your food storage fund. We are placing all your coins and any change you find on the street or in the sofa in the jar.

Next set a budget.

Determined high priced meals to skip and replaced some dinner meals with breakfast foods.

Made a list of  favorite meals and desserts.

Created a master list of all the ingredients in each recipe.

Using your permanent marker made a slash mark across all the cans and boxes you currently have in our cupboards.

Dated items around the house that are not single use. If you missed this go back and get the directions.

Emailed, facebooked and tweeted everyone you know and tell them we are beginning food storage again.

Created space for food storage.

Today is an easy day…#1 catch up. I realized we have lots of new people joining us so this is a catch up day. If you have not notified everyone you know please do that today. I have lots of people asking me to use articles to pass out at church and in other places. Have you notified all of those people from your church? #2…Now that you have notified others get a food storage buddy. This person will help you, and you will help them, stay on task and as we get to organizing and inventorying our storage you can help each other with the task. So today, catch up and get a buddy. Tomorrow we will use your recipes to create YOUR food storage plan.

For those who are stocking their General Store, and all you newcomers should be doing this also, this week add Insect repellent and aloe vera to your General Store shelves. Over the next few months we will to adding deodorant, hand soap, after shave and hair spray so if you have not already dated those items to discover how much you use in a month do that today. For soap place the wrappers in a drawer, just like we did for TP, and count them at the end of the month.

One more note. Have you noticed the interference on your TV screen the last few days? That is being caused by solar activity! Remember I warned you NASA is concerned we may be in for solar flares which will take down the electrical grid? These storms are very minor compared to the ones to come so keep planning for long term power outages, just in case. The July Newsletter is devoted to cooking off the grid so be sure to read that and use it to purchase or gather the items you will need.

I have also have questions about the blog talk radio show I did with Doctor Prepper last week. It has been taken down because we had a caller who was rude and disruptive and the podcast can’t be edited…too bad. It had such great info. I guess we will have to try to repeat some of it on the 19th when we do another show together.

Confused about the solar storms NASA is anticipating? Take some time and listen to my show with Halli.

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010



Don’t you wish you could see prices like that again? With food storage you can!

This week is full of nothing but bad news on the economic front. 125,000 jobs lost in June…14.6 million out of work…6.7 million have been out of work for more than 27 weeks…factory orders down 1.4% in May…the DOW down 400 points…3 million jobs lost since February last year…California reducing wages to minimum wage for state workers.  That’s the news just this week, THIS WEEK!More and more economists are forecasting double dip recession by the end of the year. Food Storage…It’s Time!

I left the beginning food storage post up for a few days to give you a chance to spread the word among your family and friends. I really hope you have done that. If you have tried before, try again. How will you feel if the worst happens and you did not make another attempt to warn your neighbors? This weekend as you meet with family and friends it is a good time to remind them again. I’m sure the economy will come up in conversation so take that as your opportunity to pitch self reliance once more.

There is a good article in US World Report on steps to take now to prepare. It is a good reminder. Naturally they did not mention food storage. How short sighted. I have been watching the movie Fun with Dick and Jane. It is about a couple who lose their jobs and they ways they cope and become desperate. It is meant to be funny, and it is, but at the core are some messages that ring true when it all hits the fan. People will be desperate to feed their family and have a roof over their head. Food storage is not the only answer but it is a huge part.

You should continue this weekend to make a list of the foods your family likes to eat and to create a list of all the ingredients in those meals. Tuesday we will organize those and you will have a plan to follow to begin purchasing.Again, this will be your food storage plan, not mine. You will store what your family eats not boxes of dehydrated foods that you won’t know how to use or toms of grains you will eventually throw away.

**** CONTEST**** To help motivate you to share I am offering the chance for you to win a personal one hour consultation. This will be a phone call where you can ask any questions you may have. You may even ask a group of friends to join you on a conference call or just using your speaker phone. To win one of five  consultations just refer five friends to blog.totallyready.com and our yahoo group. Have them mention your email address when they log into the yahoo group and leave a comment on any blog post. Ten friends and you get two chances to win. Fifteen friends and I will call you, guaranteed! It’s that simple. Watch for other special offers as we progress. I know I don’t want to look back when things get worse and think I could have done more to help you.

A holiday weekend is a great time to get the family busy creating space for your food storage. Summer is also a great time with kids home from school and extra hands to help. Next week we beginning filling shelves, nooks and crannies so get started! Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Closets

If you have a deep closet with a bar for hanging clothes, move the bar as far forward as possible. Make sure you still have room to hang clothing. Add shelving to the back wall of the closet. Even if the shelf is narrow it can be used for smaller items such as soup cans, catchup, or shampoo bottles.

Add an additional shelf. Most closets have a shelf above the bar on which you hang your clothes. Look for wasted space above that shelf. This is a great place for Christmas decorations and items you use only occasionally, freeing up other space.

In children’s rooms, lower the clothing bar and add shelving above. Most clothing bars are hung higher than they need to be, even for adults, creating wasted space on the floor — which usually collects lots of clutter.

Raise the floor. If you don’t want to lower the clothing bar build a platform on the floor. Place storage boxes under it and you will still have room for all those shoes.

Empty your closet

Most people wear only 20% of the clothing in their closets. Try going through your wardrobe and if you haven’t warn something in the last year get rid of it.

Under a staircase

Utilize an open staircase by installing custom cabinets, shelves, or storage cubes on the wall. For a decorative look add a bench with storage inside. If you don’t care about fashion or don’t have the money to make changes, just stack away. If you are stacking keep a map of your inventory and remember to rotate your foodstuffs.

If your staircase is enclosed, you have a huge cavern just waiting to be put to work. Create access to the space within by creating a door and store away!

Need ideas for beginning food storage or preparing for the electricity to be out? listen to my talk with Doctor Prepper.  There were some technical problems so fast forward the first ten minutes.

Confused about the solar storms NASA is anticipating? Take some time and listen to my show with Halli.

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Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010